U.S. patent number 4,026,205 [Application Number 05/476,022] was granted by the patent office on 1977-05-31 for hay roll forming machine.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Sperry Rand Corporation. Invention is credited to Allison W. Blanshine, Edward T. Eggers, Myles Hyman.
United States Patent |
4,026,205 |
Blanshine , et al. |
May 31, 1977 |
Hay roll forming machine
Abstract
A machine to form compact rolls of hay of substantial size by
picking up a swath or windrow of hay and the like from a field,
engage it by cooperating upper and lower endless flexible aprons
driven in suitable direction to coil the hay into a compact roll
while supported upon floor means mounted stationarily in the bottom
of the machine to effect baling of all the hay without loss upon
the ground. When the roll type bale of hay reaches a predetermined
diameter, the upper apron raises to stop driving the same and
provide an exit and the lower apron assists in ejecting the bale
onto the ground, or the machine can transport it to a desired
location for discharge, if desired. The upper apron initially is in
contracted position and means are included to provide tension upon
the upper conveyor to resist expansion of the same around part of
the roll as the diameter thereof increases, said tensioning means
also are such as to provide substantially uniform pressure upon the
roll as it increases in size.
Inventors: |
Blanshine; Allison W. (Lititz,
PA), Eggers; Edward T. (New Holland, PA), Hyman;
Myles (Lancaster, PA) |
Assignee: |
Sperry Rand Corporation (New
Holland, PA)
|
Family
ID: |
26998163 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/476,022 |
Filed: |
June 3, 1974 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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353945 |
Apr 24, 1973 |
|
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|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
100/88;
56/341 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A01F
15/07 (20130101); A01F 15/0883 (20130101); A01F
2015/078 (20130101); A01F 2015/0795 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A01F
15/07 (20060101); A01F 15/08 (20060101); A01F
15/00 (20060101); B30B 005/06 (); B30B 009/00 ();
A01D 039/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;100/88,76,87,40,5,7
;56/341,342,343,1M |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Feldman; Peter
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Flanagan; John R. Seemar; Frank A.
Swartz; Michael R.
Parent Case Text
This application is a continuation of Ser. No. 353,945, filed Apr.
24, 1973, now abandoned.
Claims
We claim:
1. In a mobile hay roll-forming machine having a base frame
provided with wheels for mobility and adapted to be propelled over
a swath of hay in a field, bottom means in said frame, an endless
lower apron supported for movement of the upper courses thereof
longitudinally rearward relative to said bottom means and arranged
to receive said swath of hay at the forward end thereof, drive
means for said bottom apron operable to drive the same in a
direction for the upper course to move rearwardly relatively to the
direction of movement of said machine, an endless flexible upper
apron, supporting means on said base frame for said upper apron
arranged to position the lower course thereof above the upper
course of said lower apron, and means to drive said upper apron to
move said lower course thereof in the opposite direction to said
upper course of said lower apron to form a coil of hay
therebetween, the improvement which comprises:
an improved supplemental frame included in said supporting means
for said upper apron, said supplemental frame being supported for
rotary movement about a transverse horizontal axis and comprising
pairs of members spaced radially in opposite directions from said
rotary axis at opposite sides of said machine and respectively
engaging outer and inner surface means of said upper apron at two
longitudinally spaced locations therealong, said rotatable
supplemental frame being adapted to be moved between two different
positions relative to said base frame to dispose said members
therein respectively in one position in which portions of said
upper apron are in a compact contracted configuration at least
partially within a cavity in said machine into which a roll of hay
expands during formation and in another position in which said
upper apron is expanded from said one position and the lower course
thereof being expanded and in compressive engagement with the upper
portion of a roll of hay within said machine.
2. The machine according to claim 1 in which said supplemental
frame comprises a transversely extending shaft supporting at
opposite ends thereof pairs of radially extending arms upon which
said pairs of members respectively are rotatably supported, said
arms being rotatable about the axis of said shaft.
3. The machine according to claim 2 in which said arms are fixed to
said shaft adjacent opposite ends thereof and said shaft is
supported in bearings carried by frame means of said machine,
whereby said shaft and arms are rotated gradually as the diameter
of a roll of hay increases within said machine.
4. The machine according to claim 3 further including a tensioning
cam fixedly interconnected to each side of said supplemental frame,
and spring means interconnected to each tensioning cam and operable
as the lower portion of said upper apron expands incident to a
gradual increase in diameter of a roll of hay and the like to
extend said spring means and thereby increase tensioning force upon
said cams and thereby causing increase in pressure upon said roll
of hay and the like as the diameter of said roll of hay and the
like increases and is engaged progressively by a greater extent of
the lower course of said apron.
5. The machine according to claim 4 further including cable means
extending from one end of each of said spring means and the
opposite ends of said cable means extending around cam surfaces
upon said tensioning cams and operable as said cams rotate with
said supplemental frame to vary the tension exerted upon a roll of
hay and the like as it increases in diameter to effect
substantially uniform density throughout the roll.
6. The machine according to claim 2 in which said arms are
connected to said shaft adjacent opposite ends thereof and said
arms of each pair extending in opposite directions from each other
relative to said shaft, said arms initially being positioned to
form a substantially N-shaped configuration in the upper course of
said upper apron to provide a compact contraction thereof to
minimize the size of the machine relative to the size of the
roll-type bales to be formed thereby, and said supplemental frame
being gradually rotated from said initial position as the size of a
roll of hay increases in a direction to cause said initial N-shaped
configuration of said upper course of said upper apron to expand
and assume a substantially continuiously curved shape generally
conforming to the expanded curved shape of the lower course of said
upper apron which engages the enlarged roll of hay.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
For many years, it has been customary to harvest forage crops, such
as various kinds of hay and leaf-type forage plants by mowing the
same in a field, letting them lie for several days to dry, forming
the cut and at least partially dried crop into windrows, and
passing a hay-baling machine over and along such windrows to form
the crop into rectangular bales which are secured by passing one or
more tying strands around the bale. The bales then are picked up by
various means and are taken to a barn or similar building in which
piles of such bales are stored until used. In recent years, it has
been found that if hay and similar forage crops are formed into a
large, compact roll by various types of machines, the cylindrical
formation of the roll tends to provide self-shedding of rain and
other inclement weather substances if the roll is left lying in a
field or feed lot where cattle and other herbivorous animals may
feed upon it, without requiring the roll to be taken to a storage
shed.
Large rolls of forage crops of the type described frequently are of
the order of 4 or 5 feet in diameter and 6 or 8 feet long. Rolls of
this size may weigh as much as over a ton. If they are to be moved,
following the formation thereof, special types of equipment must be
used. The present invention is concerned with the formation of
compact rolls of forage material, such as hay, and the details
thereof are setforth hereinafter.
Forming compact, large rolls of hay has engaged the attention of
various inventors heretofore. Several different principles have
been utilized in the inventions thus produced. One type forms a
roll or coil of hay and the like by initiating the formation of
such roll by suitable mechanism and continue to roll a swath or
windrow of the hay while supported upon the ground. Examples of
such mechanisms are shown in prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,110,145, to
Avery, dated Nov. 12, 1963. Another such machine comprises the
subject matter of U.S. Pat. No. 3,650,100, to Swan, dated Mar. 21,
1972. One of the principle difficulties resulting from this method
of forming rolls of hay is that a certain amount of the hay remains
upon the field without being included in the roll of hay, such as
the fines. Further, dirt, clods of earth, stones and the like also
can be picked up by the roll and this is undesirable under certain
circumstances.
A second principle method of forming rolls of the type referred to
comprises a machine in which a swath or windrow of the crop is
picked up from the field and directed onto a supporting conveyor or
the like while the same is formed into a coil or roll of the forage
crop and is out of contact with the ground, thus resulting in the
formation of a cleaner type of roll or coil of hay, as well as the
same including most if not all of the fines of the crop, thus
minimizing waste. One example of a prior machine for forming a coil
or roll of hay is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,665,690, to
Wenger, dated May 30, 1972. The particular design of the machine
shown in said patent offers a certain amount of friction between
the roll and the supporting frame of the machine, which is
undesirable, and another undesirable feature is that the coil of
hay is formed upon a core member rather than being a free-form of
roll which has no core or mandrel. The foregoing objectionable
features are obviated in the design of machine comprising the
present invention and a substantial number of improvements in the
art of forming large sizes of compact rolls of hay and other forage
crops are provided in said machine, details of which are described
hereinafter.
Another type of roll forming machine is illustrated in U.s. Pat.
No. 3,722,197, to Vermeer, dated Mar. 27, 1973 in which an upper
set of belts is mounted for expansion from a contracted pattern as
the size of the roll increases and such expansion is resisted by
forces applied by hydraulic cylinder units but pressure applied to
the belts by the hydraulic units does not increase as the
circumferential area of the roll increases and therefore uniform
density is not achieved. Also, the roll is supported from below by
a series of belts which extend across rollers but sagging and and
stretching of the belts occurs between the rollers. Further, by
engaging the roll of crop product by a series of belts in spaced
side-by-side relationship and extending parallel to the
longitudinal axes of the machine slippage of the belts with the
roll occurs and provides a much less positive drive to rotate the
roll than when an aggressive engagement is provided.
Still another type of roll forming machine is shown in U.S. Pat.
No. 2,627,223, in which a plurality of sets of force exerting means
are applied against the periphery of a roll of crop product, said
sets comprising rigid members which are spring biased toward the
roll which attempt to maintain the core of the roll or bale as
tight as possible, as distinguished from achieving substantially
uniform density throughout the roll. Said patent is dated 1953, to
Berge.
The improved features for a hay roll forming machine which comprise
the present invention are part of a complete machine which has
other novel and patentable features in addition to those of the
present invention. Such other features comprise the subject matters
of other related applications in which the instant inventors or
others are the inventors. However, for purposes of providing a full
understanding of the present invention and the benefits afforded
the overall machine thereby, a description of the entire machine,
or at least a substantial part thereof is set forth hereinafter
relative to suitable drawings to illustrate the same, the present
invention being described and shown in particular therein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the principal object of the present invention to provide a
machine for forming a compact roll of hay or similar forage crop of
substantial diameter and length by providing means to pick up a
swath or windrow of such crop by suitable means and feed it to a
space between a flexible, endless lower apron movable relative to a
bottom panel or floor, fixedly supported in the lower portion of
the machine, and the lower course of an upper flexible apron in a
manner to initiate the formation of a coil of said forage crop and
continue to coil the same by rearward movement of the upper course
of the lower apron and forward movement of the lower course of the
upper apron, the upper apron also being guided around a series of
rotatable idlers in such manner that the upper course of the upper
apron is circuitously disposed, initially, to contract the same
into a relatively compact configuration, at least partially within
the space in the machine within which the roll of hay or other crop
gradually expands in size, and the machine also including tension
type takeup mechanism to cause the upper apron to exert a
substantially constant pressure upon the upper portion of the roll
of hay or crop being formed while the lower course of the upper
apron expands around the upper surface of the roll being formed,
such expansion occuring against the action of the said take-up
mechanism included in the machine and associated with said upper
apron.
Ancillary to the foregoing object, it is a further object of the
invention to provide supplemental frame means which are pivotally
supported by principal frame means of the machine and comprise
pairs of arms in which the arms of each pair extend substantially
in opposing directions to each other, at opposite sides of the
machine, and said pairs of arms being fixed to the opposite ends of
common shaft means, said arms supporting rotatable guide members
around which opposite edges of the upper apron extend for support
and guidance in the movement thereof, said supplemental frame being
positioned during the initial formation of a roll of hay and the
like to dispose the upper course of the upper apron in said
aforementioned contracted, compact arrangement but, as the diameter
of said roll expands, said supplemental frame being adapted to
rotate in a manner to cause expansion of the lower course of said
upper apron which is in engagement with the upper curved surface of
said roll.
It is a further object of the invention to form said upper apron
from a pair of similar endless chains between which transverse bars
extend in similar, evenly spaced parallel relationship to each
other, and said rotatable guide members on said arms comprising
sprocket gears.
Still another object of the invention is to provide tension means
connected to said supplemental frame and operable to resist
rotation thereof to permit expansion of said lower course of said
upper apron, thereby causing said upper apron to exert compressive
force against the roll being formed within said machine.
A further object of the invention is to employ assemblies of cables
associated with cam members and connected to tension springs at
opposite sides of said machine, said assemblies respectively being
connected to opposite ends of the shaft to which said arms are
connected and arranged to cause said tension springs to be extended
as said supplemental frame rotates in response to expansion of the
lower course of said upper apron and thereby resist such expansion
by movement of said cables around said cam members as said shaft
rotates and the cables extend said springs and increase the tension
thereof.
Still another object of the invention is to position the arms of
said supplemental frame initially to dispose a portion of the upper
course of said upper apron in a substantially N configuration in
edge view to comprise said contracted configuration of said apron,
whereupon as said lower course of said apron expands, said N
configuration is elongated to provide payout to said lower course
of said upper apron.
It is another object of the invention to provide a lower apron
which consists of a series of endless chains spaced apart even
distances transversely between opposite sides of the machine, the
upper courses of said chains being slideably supported within
guides mounted upon the floor or bed in the machine which is
lowermost therein, said chains being guided around and driven by
appropriate sprockets and said chains having upstanding lugs which
engage the lower surface of the roll of crop material, as it is
rotated within the machine and constantly increases in diameter due
to the rearward movement of the upper courses of said chains and
the forward movement of the lower course of the upper apron which
results in rotating the roll about its axis while supported within
the machine and out of contact with the ground.
Details of the foregoing objects and of the invention, as well as
other objects thereof, are setforth in the following specification
and illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprising apart
thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a hay roll forming machine embodying
the principles of the present invention and showing the various
parts thereof in the position thereof for starting the formation of
a hay roll, the upper apron being illustrated in compact or
contracted position.
FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the parts of the
machine positioned substantially at the conclusion of forming a
maximum size of hay roll.
FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the machine with the parts thereof
illustrated in discharge position.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary end view of a portion of the machine as
seen on the line 4--4 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of the portion of the
machine shown in FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation showing, on a scale larger
than in the preceding figures, portions of the drive mechanism and
control means incorporated therewith.
FIG. 7 is a fragmentary end view of the portion of the machine
shown in FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary side elevation on a larger scale than in
FIGS. 1-3 and showing supplemental guide means for the upper
apron.
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary end view of the detail of the machine shown
in FIG. 8 as seen on the line 9--9 thereof, said figure also
illustrating portions of the mechanism in normal, operative
position.
FIG. 10 is a view similar to FIG. 9 but showing said portions of
the machine in released, inoperative position.
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary, partially diagrammatic view illustrating
the function of the portion of the machine shown in FIGS. 8-10 in
association with the floor or bed of the machine and the lower
apron thereon.
FIG. 12 is a fragmentary end view of the portion of the machine
shown in FIG. 11 as seen on the line 12--12 thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the machine illustrated therein comprises a
base frame 10 which has similar side arrangements of structural
members fixedly connected together, such as by welding or the like.
Each side of said frame comprises a bottom horizontal member 12.
The forward end thereof is connected to a vertical member 14 of
substantial height. Also, extending perpendicularly to the junction
of members 12 and 14 is a cross member 16, the adjacent end of
which is fixedly connected to the junction of members 12 and 14. A
short frame member 18 extends upwardly from the rearward portion of
bottom member 12 and the upper end thereof is connected to one end
of an upwardly and forwardly extending angular brace member 20
which is connected at its upper end to the upper end of vertical
member 14. Extending forwardly from the front face of member 14 at
each side of the machine is an A-frame consisting of angularly
related members 22 and 24, the rearward ends of which are fixed to
the front face of vertical member 14 and the forward ends thereof
are connected together and also are attached to polygonal plates
26, said plates also being fixed to and covering the outer ends of
a horizontal cross member 28. The various frame members thus far
described, which comprise the base frame 10, may be formed from
heavy structural tubing, channels, or any other appropriate
structural form commonly employed in framing of the type
described.
An auxiliary or upper frame 30 also is provided which consists of
side frames composed of a straight frame member 32, the ends of
which are connected to the opposite ends of an arcuate frame member
34. The uppermost portion of each side frame member is pivotally
connected at 36 to a suitable bearing fixed to the upper end of
vertical frame member 14 of the base frame, as clearly shown in
FIGS. 1-3. A suitable cross frame member 38 also extends between
the upper ends of angular brace members 20 of frame 10 and thereby
stabilizes the connection of the upper frame 30 at opposite sides
thereof by the pivotal connections 36 to the uppermost end of the
base frame 10. The upper end of base frame 10 also is further
stabilized transversely by means of another cross tube 40, or
similar horizontal bracing member which extends between bearing
brackets 42 which are connected to the front faces of the vertical
frame members 14 such as by welding.
The lower rearward end of upper frame 30, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and
2, also has a cross frame member 44 extending between the opposite
side frame means composed of members 32 and 34.
Upper frame 30 is moved between its lower, operative position such
as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and its extended, or discharge position,
as shown in FIG. 3, by means of a pair of hydraulic cylinder and
piston units 46, the opposite ends of which respectively are
connected to the members 22 and 32 of base frame 10 and upper frame
30, intermediately of the ends thereof, as shown in FIGS. 1-3.
Suitable hydraulic lines, of conventional type, not shown, are
connected to opposite ends of the cylinder of each unit 46 and said
units at opposite sides of the frame operate simultaneously under
all circumstances.
As will be seen from FIGS. 1-3, the base frame 10 has a pair of
conventional wheels 48 connected thereto at opposite sides of the
frame, by any suitable axle means, not shown but of appropriate
conventional type, in order that the hay roll forming machine
comprising the present invention may be drawn by a tractor or other
similar implement over a field for purposes of forming a roll of
hay or similar forage material. Referring to FIG. 6, the forward
end of the machine has an appropriate gear box 50 interconnected to
suitable transverse supporting means, including the cross member 28
for example. The gear box is driven by a shaft 52 which is
connectable to the driven end of a power take-off unit (p.t.o.)
provided on and extending rearwardly from a suitable tractor unit
or equivalent power mechanism. A power output shaft 54 extends from
the gear box 50 to one side of the machine as viewed in FIGS. 1-3
and 6.
Extending forwardly from the front end of base frame 10 is a
pick-up header unit 56 of a type adapted to engage, elevate and
rearwardly feed a swath or windrow of forage material in at least
semi-dried condition from lying in a field. A fragmentary
illustration of the forward portion of the header 56 is shown in
FIG. 7. It comprises a drum having a series of transversely spaced,
circular slots 58 therein, through which a series of spring
fingers, not shown, but of conventional agricultural nature, extend
for purposes of picking up a swath or windrow 60 of at least
semi-dried forage material, as shown in FIG. 6, for purposes of
moving the same to the entrance end of the machine. Said spring
fingers are driven by a shaft 62, in clockwise direction, by means
to be described, for purposes of elevating and feeding the material
between a pair of compressing rollers 64 and 66, for purposes of
leveling and preferably somewhat spreading transversely the swath
or windrow which passes there between.
The flattened and somewhat spread material then passes to the
entrance end of the lower apron which extends around driven roller
68, which is supported upon a shaft extending between bearings 69
respectively mounted upon the members 24 at opposite sides of the
base frame 10, as clearly shown in FIG. 6. The compressing rollers
64 and 66 also are supported upon two transverse shafts, the
opposite ends of which respectively are supported in suitable
bearings which also are mounted upon the members 24 of the base
frame at opposite sides of the machine, as best shown in FIG.
6.
The lower apron propelling means preferably comprises a series of
endless, flexible chains 70, see FIG. 12, which are transversely
spaced apart even distances and respectively extend around
sprockets gears 72 which are mounted upon shaft 74 which is
rotatably supported adjacent the forward end of the bottom or floor
76 which is fixedly connected to the base frame 10. At the rearward
end of floor 76, cylindrical guide members 73 are formed on
transverse frame tube 83 which extends between opposite side
members 12 of base frame 10 to provide rear guide means around
which chains 70 extend. The floor is supported by a series of
transversely extending bars 78 which are connected to the bottom
members 12 of base frame 10. The upper courses of the chains 70
preferably slide within metal channels 79 which are fixed to the
bottom 76, by any suitable means, said channels being shown best in
FIG. 11.
Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, it also will be seen that the
alternate links of the chain 70 have aggressive type lugs 80
connected thereto. The upper courses of the chains 70 move in the
direction of the arrows shown in FIG. 11 and said figure also shows
that the forward edge of the lugs 80 extends substantially
perpendicularly to the axis of the chain, and the upper edge of
each lug or blade slopes rearward and downward. Such shape provides
aggressive engagement with the roll being formed to facilitate
rotary movement of a roll of hay or the like in counterclockwise
direction as viewed in FIGS. 1-3, and such engagement of the lugs
80 with the roll also tends to dispose the stems and fibers of the
forage material substantially circumferential to provide a
substantial tendency for the completed roll to shed rain and the
like when lying in a field, for example.
The upper frame 30 and certain guide rolls and sprockets which
augment the same support the upper apron 82, which is shown in
outline form in FIGS. 1-3. Said apron preferably comprises a pair
of endless, flexible link-type chains 84, fragmentary examples of
which are shown in FIGS. 4, 7, and 15. At longitudinally spaced
intervals of suitable dimension, such as of the order of 8 of 10
inches, a series of bars 86 extend between said chains for
substantially the full width of the machine. Fragmentary examples
of such bars are shown in FIGS. 7 and 12. In cross section, the
bars may be square or any other suitable geometric shape, such as
cylindrical, for purposes of offering resistance to bending of the
bars, especially when engaging the periphery of a roll of hay 88,
an example of which is shown in exemplary manner in FIG. 2. The
upper apron 82 is supported upon various guide rolls and sprockets,
and the edges of guide bars, as follows.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 in particular, it'll be seen that,
adjacent each side of upper frame 30, and spaced inwardly
therefrom, is an arcuate bar 90 which is appropriately connected to
the arcuate frame member 34 at each side of the upper frame 30 by
suitable brackets 92 and 94 respectively fixed to members 34 and
bars 90, and bolted together as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The
opposite edges of the arcuate bars 90 are rounded to strengthen the
same and also minimize wear. The outer edge 96 is convex, and the
inner edge 98 thereof is concave. Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the
arcuate bars 90 are not shown but it will be understood that the
same conform generally to the shape of the arcuate frame members 34
and the upper course of the chains 84 of upper apron 82 slideably
engages the convex edge 96 of each of the arcuate guide bars
90.
At each side of the upper frame 30, adjacent opposite ends thereof,
suitable guide sprockets 100 and 102 respectively are supported by
clevises which are connected to the opposite ends of the arcuate
member 34 at each side of the frame. Affixed to ends of shaft 104,
which is supported in bearing brackets 42 adjacent the upper end of
vertical frame members 14, are pairs of oppositely extending arms
106 and 108. Said arms respectively comprise take-up and expansion
means for the upper apron 82 and operate as a pivoted supplemental
frame. The ends of said arms support rotatable guide sprockets 110
and 112 adjacent the opposite ends of the arms and the chains 84 of
the upper apron 82 extend therearound in the manner shown in FIGS.
1-3. Lastly, a driving sprocket 114 is provided at each side of the
main frame and connected to a driven shaft 116 that is supported in
appropriate bearings fixed relative to the main frame 10. The
chains 84 of the upper apron 82 also extend around said driving
sprockets. The lower course of the upper apron 82 also slideably
extends over the upper curved surface of movably mounted auxiliary
guide members 118, details of which are best shown in FIGS. 8-11
and are described hereinafter.
The pick-up header unit 56 is pivotally supported at its rearward
end upon a shaft 120 which is rotatably supported at its opposite
ends in bearings 122 connected to frame members 24 at opposite
sides of the machine. The forward end of the pick-up header unit 56
is yieldably restrained against downward movement by a pair of
springs 124 respectively connected at one end to the cross member
28 of the frame of the machine and, at the other end, being
connected to end plates on the header 56 at opposite ends thereof.
If desired, auxiliary wheels, not shown, may be rotatably mounted
at opposite ends of the header unit 56 for engagement with the
ground.
Upper compression roll 64 is supported by a shaft 126, the opposite
ends of which are rotatable in bearings formed in arms 128, best
shown in FIG. 6, the rearward end of said arms being supported upon
pivot shafts 130 mounted in bearing brackets 132 which are fixed to
vertical frame members 14. The opposite ends of arms 128
respectively at the opposite sides of the machine have clevises 134
connected thereto and a rod 136 extends upward from each clevis and
is surrounded by a compression spring 138 which extends between
each clevis 134 and a bracket 140 which is connected to a side
plate 142 on each side of the machine.
DRIVE MECHANISM
As setforth above, power for the machine is derived from a p.t.o.
of a tractor or the like, which is connected to shaft 52. Power
output shaft 54 has a sprocket gear 144 connected to the outer end
thereof as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. Shaft 154 also extends beyond
the outer end of sprocket gear 144 and has a large multiple sheave
146 fixed thereto. A sprocket chain 148 extends around sprocket
gear 144 which comprises a driving sprocket. Chain 148, which is
driven by sprocket gear 144 extends around idler sprocket gear 150
which is supported in a bearing on frame member 14. Chain 148 then
extends around sprocket gear 152, another sprocket gear 154, and a
further sprocket gear 156, from which the chain extends to the
driving sprocket gear 144. Accordingly, all of the moving elements
of the machine, with the exception of upper apron 82, are driven by
the sprocket chain 148.
Another sprocket gear 158, of smaller diameter than sprocket gear
152, is fixed to one end of pivot shaft 130 for support thereby and
a driven sprocket gear 160 is fixed to shaft 126 of the upper
compression roller 64 to drive the same by means of a sprocket
chain 162 which extends around the sprocket gears 158 and 160. The
various vertical planes within which the pairs of driving and
driven sprocket gears are located are best illustrated in FIG.
7.
Sprocket gear 156 is a driving gear for the smaller sprocket gear
164 which is connected to shaft 120 and is in the same plane as the
larger driven sprocket gear 166. Sprocket chain 168 extends around
the gears 164 and 166 and thereby effecting rotation of shaft 62
which drives the pick-up fingers of the header unit 56 which
operate within in the circular slots 58 thereof.
The power output shaft 54 also supplies the power for driving the
upper apron 82. This is accomplished by the multiple sheave 146
which is connected to the outer end of shaft 54, as indicated
above, and a driven multiple sheave 170. A series of V-belts 172
extend around the multiple sheaves 146 and 170 in a loose
condition, whereby the same comprise part of what may be considered
a clutch arrangement. Multiple belt-tightening sheaves 174 are
supported rotatably on the outer end of arm 176 which is pivoted at
178 to a bracket plate 180. A tension spring 182 is mounted in a
manner to normally elevate the tightening sheaves 174 to
inoperative position.
The purpose of the clutch-type arrangement described immediately
above is to stop the movement of upper apron 82 when the upper
frame 30 is moved to the elevated, discharge position thereof shown
in FIG. 3. When this occurs however, the lower apron comprising the
chains 70 continue to move in a direction to expel the completed
roll 88 of hay or the like from the machine. Such continued
movement of the lower apron is effected by driven sprocket 154
which is connected to the outer end of the shaft which supports the
sprocket gears 72 for the chains 70.
Operation of such clutch mechanism is effected by the position of
the tightening sheaves 174 with respect to the belts 172. Movement
of the arm 176 in a direction to cause the sheaves 182 to tighten
the belts 172 is effected by a cable 184, one end of which is fixed
to eyelet 186 on the forward end of lever 176 and the opposite end
of the cable is connected to a short arm 188 which projects
outwardly from the frame member 32 of upper frame 30, as best shown
in FIGS. 1 and 3. If desired, a spring 190 of predetermined tension
strength is connected between said other end of cable 184 and the
arm 188, as shown in FIG. 3. By comparing FIGS. 1 and 3, it'll be
seen that in FIG. 1, the cable 184 is under tension by reason of
the position of arm 188 on upper frame 30, whereby the tightening
sheaves 174 are in tightening engagement with the belts 172 and
thereby cause driving of the driven sheaves 170 by the driving
sheaves 146, thus moving the upper apron 82 at a predetermined
speed which, under preferred conditions, is slightly slower than
the surface speed of the chains 70 of the lower apron. By way of
example, it has been found that the difference of about five
percent is highly useful, whereby there is a tendency for the
slightly faster moving lower apron chains 70 to urge the roll
toward the discharge end of the machine but in view of the lowered
position of the upper frame 30 during the formation of the roll,
there is no possibility for the roll to discharge from the machine
prematurely. As shown in FIG. 3, when the upper frame 30 is
elevated to discharge position, the cable 184 goes slack and the
spring 182 raises the tightening sheaves 174 to idle position, thus
stopping the movement of the upper apron 82.
UPPER APRON EXPANDING MECHANISM
Reference is made to FIGS. 1 and 2 in which the starting and final
positions of the upper apron 82 are illustrated to best advantage.
When a roll of hay or the like is first initiated, the swath or
windrow 60 of the material is delivered to the forward end of the
lower apron comprising the chains 70. Referring to FIG. 1, it'll be
seen that the initial position of the lower course of the upper
apron 82 extends over the auxiliary guide members 118 at opposite
sides of the inner surfaces of the side plates 192 of the machine
which extend between and are fixed to the vertical frame member 14,
diagonal brace members 20, frame members 18 and horizontal bottom
members 12, as well as between the angularly disposed frame members
22 and 24. Also, there are additional side plates 194 which extend
across the major portion of the space defined by the frame members
32 and 34 of upper frame 30. Such side plates 192 and 194 confine
the opposite ends of the roll 88 of hay or the like while it is
being formed. From FIG. 1, it will be seen that the initial part of
the roll of hay or the like which is being formed, occurs in a
wedge shaped space 196 which is less high at the forward end than
the rearward end and is defined at the top by the lower straight
course of the upper apron 82 between sprockets 114 and auxiliary
guide members 118, and the upper course of the lower apron
comprising chains 70. The shape of this space greatly facilitates
the commencement of the rolling of the material, especially the
less high entrance end of the space 196, such rolling of the
material occuring by virtue of the opposite directions in which the
lower course of upper apron 82 and the chains 70 move as
illustrated by direction arrows shown in FIG. 1.
In accordance with the present invention, an important feature
thereof pertains to upper apron 82. In the initial position
thereof, the upper apron 82 is in an N-shaped, compactly contracted
position and at least partially is within the space in which the
roll of hay 88 ultimately is contained. As shown in FIG. 1, a
substantial length of the apron 82 extends from sprockets 110, down
and around sprockets 112 and up to sprockets 102 on upper frame 30,
said length of said apron, together with part of said apron which
extends between sprockets 110 and driving sprockets 114, comprises
an expandable portion of said apron which is drawn upon to be
disposed around the upper portion of the finished roll as shown in
FIG. 2.
Movement of the upper apron 82 between the contracted, starting
position shown in FIG. 1 and the expanded, final position shown in
FIG. 2 is controlled by mechanism comprising an important feature
of this invention. Said mechanism comprises a supplemental frame
including shaft 104 upon which one end of each pair of the arms 106
and 108 are fixed to support guide sprockets 110 and 112 on the
outer ends thereof. A pair of similar cam plates 198 respectively
are fixed to the opposite ends of shaft 104 and extend radially
therefrom in similar directions. A cable 200 on each side of the
machine is connected at one end to a pin 202 on each cam plate 198.
The cables then extend around guide pulleys 204 on arms 206 fixed
to the upper ends of vertical frames 14 at opposite sides of the
machine. The other end of each cable 200 is connected to one end of
a pair of very strong tension springs 208 at opposite sides of the
machine, the opposite end of each spring being anchored to a pin
210 on frame members 18. This arrangement also results in the lower
course of upper apron 82 exerting substantially constant pressure
upon a coiled roll of hay or the like while it is increasing in
size, due primarily to the contour of the cam plates 198.
As the roll of hay or the like increases in diameter due to the
coiling thereof initially within space 196 shown in FIG. 1, the
lower course of upper apron 82 between sprockets 114 and guide
members 118 will gradually be raised by the roll, with the result
that the lower courses of said apron will be lifted from the
auxiliary guide members 118. As described hereinafter, said
auxiliary guide members will be retracted into accommodating spaces
in the side plates of the machine so as not to interfere with the
movement of the ends of the roll 88 of hay and the like which is
being formed. Also, such upward movement of the lower course of the
apron 88 will require an extension of the amount of such lower
course which is in engagement with the upper surface of the roll 88
of material.
Such expansion in said lower course is provided by
counter-clockwise rotation of the supplemental frame comprising the
pairs of the arms 106 and 108, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2. Such
rotation is resisted by the springs 208 at opposite sides of the
machine and this results in suitable compression force being
applied to the roll 88 to render it compact. Also, when the lower
course of the upper apron 82 has reached its maximum expanded
position, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the N-shaped formation of apron
82 will have become extended into a substantially continuous curve
which generally conforms to adjacent enlarged curved portion of the
lower course of the upper apron as clearly shown in FIG. 2. The
chains of said lower course then will ride upon the concave edges
of the arcuate guide bars 90 respectively fixed to the arcuate
frame members 34 of upper frame 30, whereby said lower course of
the upper apron will not interfere with movement of the upper
course of said apron, as shown in FIG. 2 wherein the upper and
lower courses are closest to each other.
Due to the tension constantly exerted by the springs 208 upon the
arms 106 and 108 and especially upon the guide sprockets 110 and
112 respectively carried thereby, engagement of the chains of the
upper apron 82 with the various guide sprockets for the same will
be maintained at all times. Further, due to the fact that the
chains at opposite sides of the upper apron 82 will mesh with the
driving sprockets 114 respectively fixed to the opposite ends of
shaft 116, there will be no tendency for variation occurring in the
movements of the chains at opposite ends of the upper apron and
thus the bars 86 of the upper apron will be maintained constantly
parallel to the axes of the various shafts extending between
opposite sides of the machine.
It also will be seen especially from FIGS. 1 and 2 that even though
there is the possibility for the upper apron 82 to expand around a
relatively large diameter of roll 88 of material, such as of the
order of as much as six or seven feet, it will be seen that at no
time is the upper apron disposed in any outwardly extending
position of great extent, whereby the disposition of said upper
apron is substantially compact at all times.
Referring to FIGS. 8-11, wherein details of the auxiliary guide
members 118 are illustrated, it will be seen that the members 118
have a rounded, arcuate upper surface 212 which is slideably
engaged by the chains 84 of the upper apron 82. Normally, the
members 118 are maintained in the extended position such as shown
in FIG. 9. This position is maintained by a shaft 214 which is
pivotally connected at one end to ear means 216 on member 118. A
compression spring 218 surrounds the shaft 214 to normally urge the
member 118 to projected position such as shown in FIG. 9. Spring
218 extends between a washer fixed to shaft 214 and a bracket 220
which is supported by a suitable angle member connected to the
exterior surface of the side plates 192 at opposite sides of the
machine. Member 118 also has a pair of parallel legs 222 which are
pivotally supported by horizontal shaft 224 which is suitably
connected to the side plates 192. Said side plate also has an
appropriate opening 226 formed therein through which the member 118
moves to the retracted position shown in FIG. 10, against the
compressive force of spring 218.
The members 118 at opposite sides of the machine are forced from
the projected position of FIG. 9 to the retracted position of FIG.
10 by engagement of the members 118 by the opposite ends of the
roll 88 of hay or the like. They also will be maintained in said
retracted position as long as the roll 88 of hay remains in the
machine. However, after discharge of the roll, the springs 218
restore the members 118 to the projected, operative position such
as shown in FIG. 9 in order that the lower course of the upper
apron 82 may slideably engage the same for support incident to the
apron 82 forming one boundary of the wedge shaped space 196.
DISCHARGE OPERATIONS
When the roll 88 of hay or the like has reached either a desired or
maximum diameter capable of being formed by the machine, the
operator of the tractor actuates a valve, not shown, to introduce
fluid by conventional means to one end of the cylinder units 46 and
thus effect raising of the upper frame 30 from the position shown
in FIGS. 1 and 2 to the discharge position shown in FIG. 3. As
described above, such movement releases the tightening sheaves 174
from the belts 172 and thus disconnects driving power from the
upper apron 82. However, rearward movement of the upper courses of
the chains 70 comprising the lower apron continues from the driving
imparted to shaft 74 by sprocket gear 154. Referring particularly
to FIGS. 11 and 12, it will be seen that on alternate successive
links of the chains 70, the lugs or blades 80 are provided to
effect positive engagement between the chains 70 and the lower
surfaces of the roll 88 of the material being formed into a roll.
During such formation, the roll will be rotated in the direction of
the arrow illustrated in exemplary manner in FIG. 3. The shape of
the lugs or teeth 80 also is important. They may be considered to
be of an aggressive nature. The lugs on the upper course of the
chains have a substantially perpendicular leading edge 226 and a
downward and rearward sloping upper edge 228, considered relative
to direction of movement of said lugs in the upper course of the
chains 70, as indicated by the directional arrows in FIG. 11. Not
only is the function of the lugs 80 to firmly and aggressively
engage the lower surface of the roll 88 of material but the
concentrated engagement of all of the lugs 80 on all of the chains
70 with the lower surface of the roll 88 results in orientation of
the stems and fibers of the agriculture forage crops being formed
into the roll so that the same extend circumferentially throughout
the roll and, when the roll is left in a field for feeding of stock
or the like, such rolls have a substantial tendency to shed rain
and other inclement weather substances in a highly satisfactory
manner.
The discharge end of the bottom or bed 76 of the machine terminates
in a series of similar plates 230 which have side flanges 232
extending downwardly. The side flanges of adjacent plates 230 are
spaced apart even distances, as shown in FIG. 12. The spaces 234
thus formed are sufficiently wide to receive the chains 70, and the
lugs 80 which project therefrom, when the outer ends of the plates
230 are in the elevated position thereof shown in FIG. 8. Thus, the
chains and the lugs 80 disappear through said spaces and this
results in the lugs disengaging the roll of material which is being
rotated clockwise, relative to FIGS. 1-3, while the lower surface
of the roll slides in a rearward direction with respect to the
stationary bottom or floor 76 of the machine.
For safety and protection, the upper frame 30 also is provided with
outer cover plates 254 which at least partially extend around and
between the arcuate frame members 34 of upper frame 30.
From the foregoing, it will be seen that the present invention
provides a highly versatile machine for forming large sizes of
compact rolls of agriculture forage material such as hay and other
similar crops. The rolls are formed while out of contact with the
ground, thus minimizing waste of the material being harvested and
also keeping the rolls in clean condition and relatively free from
dirt, stones and other undesirable material which may occur in
fields from which the crop is being harvested. All moving elements
of the machine are power driven in a manner which achieves maximum
efficiency. Further, the upper apron is arranged and supported by
mechanism which permits substantial expansion of the lower course
of the apron which engages the roll being formed, the contracted
portion of said apron from which the expanded lower course is
obtained being disposed to a substantial extent within the space
ultimately occupied by the enlarged roll of material, thus
minimizing the overall size of the machine. The expansion also
takes places automatically, under tension, which is uniformly
applied to the upper surface of the roll being formed substantially
from the time the roll is initiated until its ultimate size is
reached.
While the invention has been described and illustrated in its
several preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the
invention is not to be limited to the precise details herein
illustrated and described since the same may be carried out in
other ways falling within the scope of the invention as illustrated
and described.
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